Cidery News: Seattle: Seattle Cider Company and City Fruit collaborate to release Whole Food Market-exclusive, City Fruit Cider

Press Release

SEATTLE  ... Seattle Cider Company, Whole Foods Market and City Fruit are excited to announce the release of City Fruit cider exclusively at Whole Foods Market. Hitting shelves at all six Seattle-area locations on June 29, this one of a kind cider was created by Seattle Cider Company in collaboration with local non-profit City Fruit – dedicated to feeding thousands of local families through stewarding, harvesting, and donating fruit from Seattle's urban canopy. Made using solely Seattle-grown apples collected by City Fruit, half of the proceeds from every bottle sold will go directly to the growing non-profit to support their annual harvest and help save Seattle’s apples.  

“We donate a large portion of the fruit we collect to food banks, but in previous years, fruit with blemishes or small markings was just being composted,” said City Fruit Executive Director Catherine Morrison. “We’re thrilled to have found a way to put these apples to great use, and have a delicious product to help support and celebrate Seattle’s urban harvest as a result.”

In 2014, 32 percent of Seattle’s urban fruit crop was composted after harvest. In 2015, thanks to the new partnership with Seattle Cider Company, that number was reduced to just eight percent. During harvest, as fruit was collected and sorted, apples unable to be used by food banks were dropped off at Seattle Cider Company and pressed. The result is a delightfully tart and tannic cider offering 6.3 percent ABV and just 1 Brix (measurement of residual sweetness), made from more than 40 apple varieties. 

“This cider provides an amazing opportunity for us and cider lovers to give back to our community, and support City Fruit’s efforts. This is a one-of-a-kind cider both for how it’s made and the partnership it has created, and we’re proud to be a part of it,” said Caitlin Braam, president of Seattle Cider Company. 

With only 140 cases produced, City Fruit cider will be available for a limited time at all Seattle Whole Foods locations for $12.99 a bottle beginning July 29. 

“Our team members are part of the local community and they are passionate about supporting the non profit organizations and causes that are important to our shoppers and neighbors,” added Susan Livingston, Executive Marketing Coordinator at Whole Foods Market. “This is a terrific partnership with lots of potential for future collaboration.”

City Fruit’s Save Seattle’s Apples campaign is geared toward building awareness about Seattle’s urban canopy, the proper care and management of apples trees, and providing opportunities for the public to protect apples. Efforts are underway to cover and protect more than 20,000 apples throughout the city of Seattle. For more information and to learn how you can get involved, visit cityfruit.org. 

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About Seattle Cider Company^®

Not your standard cider. Seattle Cider Company is city’s first cidery since Prohibition, bringing true craft cider back to Seattle and across the country. Bridging the gap between wine and beer with flavorful, small-batch cider, Seattle Cider Company’s year round and seasonal offerings break the mold of overly sweet cider, bringing the natural flavors of Washington apples to the forefront. Naturally gluten free and made from a custom blend of fresh pressed, locally grown apples, Seattle Cider Company’s products are handcrafted with all natural ingredients and never from concentrate. Seattle Cider products are currently available throughout Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Austin, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Nevada, Missouri and Colorado. Visit our tasting room, The Woods, open weekly Tuesday - Sunday at 4660 Ohio Ave. S. in Seattle. For more information, visit seattlecidercompany.com, or follow Seattle Cider Company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@seattleciderco).  

About Whole Foods Market^® 

Founded in 1978 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company's motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, team member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s more than 86,000 team members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 18 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2015, the company had sales of more than $15.4 billion and currently has more than 449 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more company news and information, please visit media.wfm.com.